Dr. Rakesh Mishra received his PhD from the University of Allahabad, India, in 1986. He did post-doctoral research at the Indian Institute of Science, India; University of Bordeaux, France; Saint Louis University, USA; and University of Geneva, Switzerland. He then joined the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India, and became Director in 2016.

Dr. Rakesh Mishra is currently the Director of the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore. He is also Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), and J.C. Bose National Fellow at CCMB, Hyderabad. 

Under his leadership, the Atal Incubation Centre was established at CCMB, which provides life science entrepreneurs the infrastructure and mentorship needed to encourage innovation. CCMB has also played a key role in genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and made major contributions in diagnostics, drug screening, environmental surveillance, and capacity building in various efforts against the pandemic.

His research interests are comparative genomics of non-coding DNA in the context of evolution of complexity, genetic basis of anterior-posterior body axis formation in animals and role of epigenetic regulation in development. He also has keen interest in environmental & genomic surveillance of infectious diseases and application of cutting-edge science and technology in addressing societal problems.

Dr. Mishra has published around 200 scientific papers and is the recipient of a number of recognitions including being elected fellow of the national academies, Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Sciences, India.